For a second she looked bewildered. Then she closed her eyes. “The gun shot,” she whispered. "That’s why you told me to close my eyes. You didn’t want me to see him execute her.”
It might have been my imagination, but she sounded almost sad for the woman who had caused her so much grief. But then that was Amy all over.
“Someone would have done it if he hadn’t. Violet had made too many very powerful enemies.”
“Would you have done it?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. Maybe in the past I hadn’t wanted to do it, but now? I would have put a bullet in her brain without even a thought. “To keep you and Nikolai safe I would do anything.”
Every word I said was honest.
“Is Nikolai OK?”
“As perfect as always. I had him taken somewhere safe. And once I’ve had you checked out I will take you to him.”
“I’m fine.”
My arms tightened for a second. “I’d like to make sure of that, though, before I take you home to our son.” I paused. “To our family. If you will have me anyway.”
“Have you?”
“Have me back, as your husband. I know I have to make it up to you and regain your trust, and I’m going to do that.” I drew her face up. Her lips were just too inviting, beckoning me to kiss them. “I’m going to—”
She closed the last inch of space between us. Her lips soft on mine before she fell back into the seat and closed her eyes. It was an almost chaste kiss, but it was a start.
“We can try again but slowly. I have to know for sure that I can trust you.”
“Of course. Now, let’s get you checked out.” I couldn’t help but grin.
“No.” Her words were firm. “I’ve had enough hospitals to last me a lifetime, Alexei. I’m fine. Take me home.” Her eyes flew open. “Take me home to our son.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Amy
He didn’t take me back to the apartment. Instead, the driver headed out of the city proper. Risking a glance at Alexei, I found him smiling. Catching my look, he turned his head to me. The wide grin on his face was dazzling.
But then I had always thought he was handsome when he was happy. Well, even more handsome than he usually was anyway.
“Where?”
Reaching out across the back seat, he took my hand and lifted it to his lips. “Home,” he said simply. I felt my heart stutter. Did he mean we were going home, as in our marital home.
“Oh,” I didn’t know what else to say.
The smile slid from his face. “If there are too bad many memories there, then I’ll have them bring Nikolai—”
I squeezed his fingers, and he fell silent. There were bad memories there. He was right about that, but there were good ones as well. It was the place I classed as home, and I had missed it. I just hadn’t realized how much until that moment.
I shook my head. “No, I want to go home.”
And I did. More than anything, I wanted to go home. I wanted tosee my baby and try to put all of this behind me. It wasn’t going to be easy, I knew that. But I wanted to start to live my life again.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I studied my husband’s face. Damn, he was gorgeous. And the more you looked at him, the more handsome he got.
Sure, there was a coolness in him. He wore his aloofness like armor, but once he let you in, he was mesmerizing.
“Like what you see?”
